A shocking incident occurred in India’s Bihar state on Wednesday when a six-year-old boy brought a gun to school and shot a classmate, according to local media. The 10-year-old survivor is currently being treated at a hospital.
The tragic event took place in the Supaul district of Bihar, one of the most economically impoverished states in India. In response, police have taken the school principal into custody, temporarily sealed the building, and are now searching for the shooter’s father to determine how the child managed to obtain the firearm.
A local police official stated that it seems the boy believed the weapon was a toy. The child had brought an illegal weapon to school in his school bag”, said Pipin Kumar, a senior police official, during an interview with ABP news. He was playing with it when it suddenly went off, hitting a student.
The injured child has claimed that there was no prior argument or disagreement between him and the shooter before the incident occurred. He took the gun out of his bag, I don’t know why he shot me”, he told reporters. Police in the area have urged school authorities to ensure that all bags brought into class are regularly checked for any potential weapons or hazards.
The shooting has stirred up unrest among parents and community members, with some staging a protest outside the school. India is known for its strict gun laws, requiring individuals to prove there “exists a threat to life” in order to obtain a firearm legally. The Arms Act Amendment Bill of 2019 proposes a prison sentence of seven to 14 years, along with a fine, for the acquisition or possession of illegal firearms.
Despite these stringent laws, illegal firearm trade continues to be prevalent in some states, such as Bihar. According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report from 2022, police confiscated 4,035 unlawful guns in Bihar during the year 2021 – the fourth highest figure in the nation. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal firearms and the need for stricter enforcement measures to prevent future accidents involving children and firearms.